The Works of DANTE - Issue 1
Research networking has always been a source of innovation. The pan-European GÉANT network has represented a new bench mark for network performance. Alongside technical development, there is also the geographic expansion of connectivity, with initiatives in Latin America, Asia and the southern Mediterranean through projects such as ALICE, TEIN2 and EUMEDCONNECT. The next generation of GÉANT includes an ambitious programme of technical development which covers areas as diverse as network security, mobility and performance measurement.
In order to provide a regular and topical overview of progress in these areas we are re-launching The Works of DANTE. This quarterly newsletter will also provide information on DANTE’s other activities, and includes interviews, features and conference news relevant to all who work in the research networking arena.
Dai Davies
DANTE co-General Manager
Latest Website Updates
Have you visited www.dante.net recently? If not, then you may be surprised to see how much has changed. The site was relaunched in October 2003, following a complete redesign, and is being continuously developed to provide a comprehensive resource of information on the work of DANTE.
DANTE's new web presence includes microsites for all the projects DANTE is managing, plus background information, press releases, presentations, and project deliverables. Each microsite also contains restricted areas where project partners can share information and documents specific to the projects on which they are collaborating.
As well as containing much of our publicity material in electronic format, all the project microsites feature a dedicated order form. You can use this form to request free publicity materials including network topology posters and brochures.
The research community works in a fast-moving environment and we are developing and expanding the website to reflect this. We would welcome your comments on what you’d like to see on the site. You can contact DANTE's webmaster via the site feedback form, available at www.dante.net/feedback.
The new site has been built in XHTML, with a view to establishing its full compliance with the latest Web standards, and to provide an easy upgrade path as browser support for Web standards becomes more widespread. The new site also aims to achieve conformance to W3C Accessibility Guidelines - providing a site that is easy for disabled people to navigate and use.
With so much new content, the DANTE website is the best place to keep up to date with all the latest news and information on our activities.
A Global Perspective
Research is becoming an increasingly global activity. In recognition of this, the research networks which serve the research community are themselves developing stronger global links.
CANARIE, GÉANT2 and Internet2 are building on earlier collaboration to implement a strategic initiative on transatlantic cooperation within the framework of the GÉANT2 technical programme. Regular technical meetings provide the opportunity to discuss issues of common interest, helping us to build a more complete picture of the international context in which we all operate.
The last meeting was held in Cambridge in July, which served as a useful discussion forum for topics including:
- Lightpath research and development
- Joint performance monitoring of the GÉANT and Abilene networks
- Network security – current and future threats, monitoring and prevention
- Evolving Internet architecture – hybrid networks
- Mobility and roaming services.
The next meeting between Internet2, CANARIE, and representatives of GÉANT2 and DANTE will take place in Rome, in January 2005. Future issues of The Works of DANTE will track the development of the initiative.
Annual Report
The 2003 edition of the DANTE Annual Report is now available. It confirms another successful year for the operation of GÉANT, with even more countries now able to access the network. Stable, uninterrupted service was maintained throughout the year, keeping pace with increasing user demand. The report can be viewed online, or you can order a hard copy from www.dante.net/order
Europe of Knowledge 2020
26-28 April, Liège, Belgium
DANTE was pleased to take part in the Europe of Knowledge 2020 conference, held in Liège, Belgium, 26-28 April. Dai Davies and Mario Campolargo (Head of Unit, DG INFSO, EU) gave high-profile presentations in the closing session, highlighting the GÉANT network and its capabilities for European researchers. The presentation emphasised how GÉANT makes possible new techniques and methods of working, genuinely changing the way current research is done. The conference brought together university academics from all over Europe to debate the future of European university research. The GÉANT2 successor network will support future developments in the research arena, helping Europe to remain at the forefront of academic research.
DANTE exhibited at the conference, raising awareness of the GÉANT network to this influential audience, consisting of many important users of European research networks. GÉANT DVDs and brochures were distributed to all 1000 delegates, in addition to publicity material collected from the DANTE stand.
The presentations given by Dai Davies and Mario Campolargo can be found on the website in the DANTE newsroom at www.dante.net/newsroom
TERENA Networking Conference
7-10 June, Rhodes, Greece
The twentieth anniversary of the TNC was held at the University of the Aegean, on the Greek island of Rhodes. Over 400 delegates made the trip to take part in the event, which was spread over four days. The conference covered current issues in research networking, including eLearning, Grids, performance monitoring and threat handling. Comprehensive coverage of the event, including a video archive, presentations and photos can be found at http://www.terena.nl/conferences/tnc2004/
Several DANTE staff gave presentations at the event and you can view these online at www.dante.net/newsroom
The event also provided the opportunity for the various TERENA (Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association) Task-forces to get together. The Taskforces for Public Relations (TF-PR) and Mobility research (TF-Mobility) were among the teams to meet.
One important outcome of the TF-PR meeting was the decision to give public access to PeaR, the online news agency of the TF-PR. Providing access for the research networking community means information from the NRENs, DANTE and TERENA, will now reach a far wider audience. You can find out more at http://www.terena.nl/news/pr/agency/
A EUMEDCONNECT project meeting also took place, allowing representatives from the NRENs involved to meet and discuss the development of the network. Issues such as sponsored technical training and operational procedures were also raised. There is an interview with the EUMEDCONNECT Project manager in this issue.
GÉANT2: Ambitious goals for next generation network
The project to create the next generation of the GÉANT network began on 1 September 2004. The new network will build on the success of the existing GÉANT model, replacing the current network in Spring 2005 with an improved backbone infrastructure for European research and education. It will make leading-edge technology available to all in the research community, irrespective of geographic location.
The Project
The four-year GÉANT2 project is co-funded by the European Commission and 30 of Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). It will be managed by DANTE and involves 32 partners: DANTE, TERENA and the 30 NRENs. The upgraded network will continue to provide high performance services for demanding users, but will in future also provide dedicated 'wavelengths', specifically designed to meet their needs. An initiative to provide seamless end-to-end connectivity will give scientists direct access to the advanced communication capabilities of GÉANT and its national partner networks. In addition, a new mobility and roaming service will be developed, allowing users to stay connected to GÉANT, wherever they are doing research.
GÉANT2 is a fundamental component of the European Research Area and will increasingly support the growth of research and development in a global context. "The European Research Area won’t happen without meeting scientists’ requirements. GÉANT2 will support the needs of end-users in collaboration with National Research and Education Networks" said Dai Davies, DANTE’s co-General Manager.
Research Activities
GÉANT2 will deploy a "hybrid" network architecture that seamlessly combines a switched and a routed infrastructure by utilising the most appropriate technology from the worlds of telephony and the Internet. The new network will not only aid academic researchers, but will also act as a research tool in its own right. Some of these activities include:
- Developing improved tools for network performance management
- Creating protection mechanisms for increased network security
- Producing real-time monitoring tools on attempted network attacks
- Developing tools to allocate bandwidth on demand
- Implementing a test-bed facility for testing new technology.
The global reach of the network is expanding as research networking operates on an increasingly global scale. European researchers are already well connected to North America and Japan via 10Gbps and 2.5Gbps links respectively. Results from the EUMEDCONNECT project means the Mediterranean region is now increasingly connected to GÉANT. The ALICE project for Latin America will connect researchers to their European counterparts via GÉANT, and new connections to Asia will link to GÉANT2, as part of the TEIN2 project.
Look out for the GÉANT2 website, due to launch in September, which will become a comprehensive source of information about project activities. We are also developing GÉANT2 brochures, leaflets and posters which will soon be available to download and order.
EUMEDCONNECT
David West is DANTE’s project manager for the EUMEDCONNECT project. The Works of DANTE asked him to explain more about the project and its aims. You can find additional information at www.eumedconnect.net
1. What is the EUMEDCONNECT project?
EUMEDCONNECT is developing a major Internet network in the Mediterranean region that is dedicated to research and education. The network will connect the national research and education networks (NRENs) of the Mediterranean countries, to each other for the first time. It will also give their users access to colleagues in over 3500 research and education Institutions in Europe, by connecting them to the GÉANT network.
2. Who will benefit from the new network?
Partners already successfully connected to the network are Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkey. Israel, Malta and Cyprus are also connected through their GÉANT links. Further connections are planned to Egypt, Cyprus and Syria.
3. How is the project funded?
The project receives up to 10M Euros (80%) of its funding from the EU, as part of the EUMEDIS programme. The remainder is provided by the project partners.
4. What is DANTE’s involvement in the project?
DANTE is the co-ordinating partner and is responsible for planning, managing and operating the network. We have evaluated tenders from connectivity service providers and awarded work based on their ability to provide reliable connections at competitive prices. DANTE is then responsible for the running of the network - ensuring its successful operation, and quickly resolving any problems that arise. DANTE also provides training for NREN engineers and a monitoring tools service, which shows the traffic flow on the network at any one time.
5. Which NRENs are partnering DANTE in the project?
There are four European NRENs involved: GARR from Italy, GRNET from Greece, the Spanish NREN RedIRIS, and RENATER, the French NREN. These countries have close historical and cultural ties with the region, as well as a wealth of experience in setting up and running research networks.
6. What is the current situation for research networking in the region?
The Internet remains a scarce and expensive resource in the Mediterranean, and research networks are mainly poorly developed and connected. The EUMEDCONNECT project is addressing this issue. It aims to be a catalyst for improving infrastructure and Internet access for the wider community.
7. What benefits will the project bring to the region?
The project will catalyse the development of research and education networks in the region. It will transform the way Mediterranean researchers
currently work, allowing them to collaborate with their colleagues from all over the world. The project also aims to break the digital divide that exists between Europe and the Mediterranean. A further aim is to strengthen regional relationships and provide a stronger sense of direction.
8. What problems has the project faced?
In several of the participating countries, there was limited cable infrastructure and little or no competition in most of the region. Commercial prices for connectivity are often extremely high, compared to Europe. The project has worked hard to drive these down and achieve best value from the project funds.
The success of the project has led to other initiatives following the methods applied by EUMEDCONNECT. ALICE, SEREEN, and TEIN2 are all using the template.
ALICE
The first regional research network for Latin America began operating on 1 August 2004. The ground-breaking ALICE project ("America Latina Interconectada con Europa") has created a research and education network to connect Latin American countries together. It provides a direct link to European researchers for the first time, via a connection to GÉANT.
The Network
The first phase of implementation has seen the construction of a 155Mbps "ring" to connect the national networks of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Panama and Mexico. This Latin American ring is linked to GÉANT via a 622Mbps connection to Madrid. An adjoining network branch connects to Venezuela via a 45Mbps circuit between Caracas and Sao Paulo. Further connections to the NRENs of Paraguay and Uruguay, will follow shortly, while the project will ultimately connect 18 Latin American NRENs, stretching from Mexico to Chile. The network infrastructure is being provided by Global Crossing, and includes the transatlantic link to Madrid.
By establishing a regional research network, the project aims to fight the digital divide that exists throughout Central and South America. It will accelerate the development of the Information Society and stimulate the local development of NRENs. Many Latin countries are now focusing their efforts on developing their own national networks, giving them the ability to access the global Research and Education community.
Applications
Potential applications of the ALICE network are many and varied. The project will allow collaboration in research areas across multiple fields. Investigation of the El-Niño phenomenon is just one study area that will benefit. Regional climatologists will have access to a global network of counterparts, with ALICE and GÉANT able to transport the large amounts of data that weather modelling produces. Together, researchers may be able to unlock some of the mystery surrounding a regional event that has such global consequences.
The project is being co-ordinated by DANTE. It is partnered by CLARA, DANTE's Latin American cousin and by four European NRENs. These are RENATER (France), GARR (Italy), FCCN (Portugal) and RedIRIS (Spain). Within the region itself, the project is partnered by the NRENs of 18 Latin American countries. A full list of these can be found on the ALICE website at www.dante.net/alice
This microsite also contains useful information and links to the @lis programme, which aims to reinforce the partnership between the European Union and Latin America, in the field of the Information Society. An ALICE brochure is available to download and a network topology poster will be available soon – so keep checking the site!
Who Uses GÉANT?
The GÉANT network connects over 3500 research and education institutions, and as a result there is no such thing as a "typical user". The applications of the network are almost limitless. Any type of research can make use of the facility. Some examples include Radio Astronomy, Particle Physics, Natural History, and Earthquake modelling.
Yet, use of the network is not restricted to "hard science" applications. Researchers in the Arts and Humanities fields including Art, History, and Geography are all able to access the network. In each issue of The Works of DANTE, we will take a more in-depth look at the types of research that are making use of the GÉANT network. This issue focuses on Radio-Astronomy.
e-VLBI
The GÉANT network is helping Europe’s radio-astronomers to see further back in time, closer to the very start of the Universe. The network is being used to connect radio telescopes all over Europe, which collect simultaneous observations. These are then correlated to form very sharp, high-definition images.
The process, known as e-VLBI (Electronic Very Long Baseline Interferometry) sends huge quantities of data, via national research networks and GÉANT, directly to a central processing centre located at JIVE (Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe) in Dwingeloo, Holland. Once there, the data is available to be immediately correlated and processed, and sharp images are produced. The old method collected data on magnetic tapes, which were then transported by courier to the correlator in Holland. This journey could take up to six weeks, so if any of the telescopes were malfunctioning, it would be weeks before the problem was diagnosed. In addition, exciting astronomical events were often over before astronomers even knew of their existence. With the help of GÉANT, e-VLBI allows rapid follow-up of significant events and provides the astronomers with the information they need to troubleshoot telescopes in near-real time.
Reverse e-VLBI
As well as supporting the VLBI technique, GÉANT can also open the way for astronomers all over the world to access the data and images produced at JIVE in Holland. This method, known as "reverse e-VLBI" transfers data from the central correlator in Dwingeloo directly to an astronomer’s personal computer. GÉANT has enabled the creation of an enormous, online community of astronomers, who have greater, faster access to data than ever before.
Find out more about e- VLBI at http://www.evlbi.org/
How do you use GÉANT? If you have a story to share please contact us via the feedback form.
DANTE Heads East
DANTE has been contracted by the European Commission to lead an important new research networking project called TEIN2. This is the successor project to the TEIN (Trans-Eurasia Information Network) Initiative and will connect research networks in Asia with those in Europe, via the GÉANT network. As well as improving international connectivity, the project will advance research networking within the region. It aims to give particular help to developing Asian countries, whose networks are less established than others in the area.
At present, collaborating researchers in Europe and Asia use the commercial Internet to share information. The TEIN2 project will address this, allowing the transfer of larger amounts of data, at faster rates, and with a more reliable connection.
A recent meeting of the TEIN2 Technical Committee took place in Cairns, Australia. It confirmed that the Feasibility Study to assess the current state of regional connectivity, and to measure user needs, is well on track. The project continues to receive positive support from the Asian partners. The next meeting of the Technical Committee takes place in Beijing on 19 and 20 September.
Go to www.tein2.net to follow the progress of the project.
DANTE has moved
to a new location only minutes away from Francis House.
Here are our new contact details:
DANTE
City House
126-130 Hills Road
Cambridge CB2 1PQ
Tel: +44 1223 371 300
Fax: +44 1223 371 371
More detailed directions can be found online in the "Contact us" section of the DANTE website.
Circuit upgrades
Here are the latest upgrades to the GÉANT network implemented between November 2003 and April 2004.
Slovenia and Croatia
Three STM-16 (2.5Gbps) links (Budapest-Zagreb, Zagreb-Ljubljana and Ljubljana-Vienna) have replaced four STM-4c links.
Latvia
An STM-1 (155Mbps) link (Riga to Stockholm) has replaced an E3 (34Mbps) link.
Lithuania
An STM-4c (622Mbps) link (Kaunas to Stockholm) has replaced an STM-1 (155Mbps) link.
Portugal
Two STM-16 (2.5Gbps) links (Lisbon to Madrid and Lisbon to London) have replaced an STM-4c (622Mbps) link. This is an eight times increase in capacity.
Greece
Two STM-16 (2.5Gbps) links (Athens to Milan and Athens to Frankfurt) have replaced two STM-4c (622Mbps) links – a fourfold increase in performance.
Free Publicity Materials!
There is a whole range of free printed materials available to order from the DANTE website. These include brochures, leaflets, annual reports
and posters, covering all of the current projects. Click on www.dante.net/order to place your order.
Contact Us!
If you have any questions, or comments that you would like to provide, please use the online feedback form at www.dante.net/feedback.
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